Danish designers Laura Bilde and Linnea Blæhr work to combine functionality and sculptural expression through materials and shapes, bringing together tactility, sensuousness, and enticement for the end result. The two women recently combined their talents with Ege Carpets’ capabilities for a rug collaboration entitled SHE. The six carpet patterns within the collection celebrate talented female artists who have paved the way for those in the future. SHE hopes to provide them with much deserved recognition within the realms of textile weaving, sculpture, and painting.
“It makes sense for both of us to delve into history and learn, when creating new designs – allowing us to connect with what was, what is, and what will be. When we celebrate something, it is also a way to express gratitude and humility towards a cherished element in our lives that holds significance,” Bilde and Blæhr shared.
SHE is Ege Carpets’ first WOOL100 designer collection that encompasses renewable materials, luxurious comfort, and uncompromising quality. Natural 100% pure new wool yarn is spun in the brand’s own spinning mill, using the finest selection of extra-long and extra-durable wool fibers. It matches the durability of wool/nylon blends, and stands up to heavy commercial wear and tear and the test of time.
Bilde and Blæhr brought inspiration spurred on by female artists who were creating their work in the 1930s. Namely Sonia Delaunay, Aino Aalto, Anni Albers, Ray Eames, and Agnes Martin, who left their marks on the industry. The time period was influenced by a fresh understanding of form and colors, which in turn laid a new foundation for design and art.
“Drawing inspiration from woven textiles, graphical sculptures, and dynamic paintings, we crafted new expressions inspired by their methods of working,” said the two designers. “This was achieved by working with collages, shaping each of the six carpet patterns by hand, thereby infusing subtle imperfect lines into the carpets, with a focus on repetition, rhythm, and geometry.”
All six SHE patterns are made by hand, with small details made visible through yarn twisting techniques that create textural effects and even a bit of randomness. The color palette even uses common hues from 1930s functionalism, which are as popular in contemporary interior design today as they were nearly a century ago.
To learn more about the SHE carpet collection, visit egecarpets.com.